Heroes!

Tim

Tony

As one great British hero, The Prime Minister Tony Blair, prepares to leave the stage this week. It is great to see another British hero of the same era, Tim Henman performing magnificently at Wimbledon 2007 (hopefully not his final swansong though).

Despite being 32, considered old in tennis circles and in patchy form, Henman lifted the monsoon gloom last night by giving the nation one more thriller. The kind of match that has made us breathless for more than ten years.

Playing the former World Number 1, Carlos Moya in the temporarily exposed Centre Court, Henman won the first set after a rain delay. Much to the horror of those gathered on his hill, Henman then lost the next two sets. The roller coaster had begun again in SW19. Henman then won the fourth set. Only Ashes cricket compares for sheer drama. In an incredible fifth set, Henman came back from certain defeat at 4-2 to go ahead 5-4. I was jumping around, and shouting like I had done, ever since Henman beat Kafelnikov in 1996. Henman then had four, yes four, match points before the talented Moya levelled at 5-5.

Due to it being 21.18 and dark, both players then chose to go off. Henmania continues into a second day. Can the heart take it? It was superlative stuff and shows why Wimbledon is still the UK's finest sporting event.

Whatever the result of the match tomorrow, Henman has done his country proud over the years just like The PM.

C'mon Tim tomorrow. And how about Sir Tim Henman in the not too distant future?